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The Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2026, ISBN 9780348288377

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Order laid before Parliament under section 59(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; draft to lie for forty days pursuant to section 6(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, during which period either House of Parliament may resolve that the Order be not made.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

Made ***

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009f1 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for Englandf2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated September 2026f3 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Darlington. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2009 c. 20.

f2

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20).

f3

The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/darlington/.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and application
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors
  4. 4Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors
  5. 5Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors
  6. Signature
  7. Schedule 1Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors
  8. Schedule 2Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors
  9. Schedule 3Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors
  10. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026.

(2)

This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

(3)

Articles 3 to 5 come into force—

(a)

for the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

(b)

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in Englandf1 in 2027.

(4)

This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

2Interpretation

(1)

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026” held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Englandf1.

(2)

Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse, or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of that feature.

3Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors

(1)

The existing wards of the district of Darlington are abolished.

(2)

The district of Darlington is divided into the 19 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

(3)

Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

(4)

The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.

4Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors

(1)

The existing parish wards of the parish of Whessoe are abolished.

(2)

The parish of Whessoe is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 2.

(3)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(4)

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 2.

5Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors

(1)

The parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 3.

(2)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(3)

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 3.

Signature

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Schedule 1Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors

(1) Name of district ward(2) Number of councillors
Albert Hill & Red Hall1
Bank Top & Lascelles2
Branksome & Cockerton2
Brinkburn1
Central Park & Lingfield2
College3
Firthmoor2
Harrowgate Hill3
Heighington & High Coniscliffe2
Hummersknott & Blackwell2
Hurworth2
Mowden2
North Road2
Park East2
Pierremont3
Sadberge & Middleton St George3
Springfield2
West Park & Faverdale2
Whinfield & Haughton3

Schedule 2Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Beaumont Hill3
Burtree Lane5

Schedule 3Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Low Coniscliffe6
Merrybent1

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Darlington following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the district itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the district of Darlington and replaces them with the 19 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purposes of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to the parish wards of the parish of Whessoe that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purposes of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

Article 5 makes similar provision for the new parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent, which was previously un-warded, for the purposes of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/darlington/.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.